Textile Exchange has released its annual report, highlighting a remarkable surge in material production across all fibre markets and tracking greenhouse gas emissions for the fashion, home textiles, and footwear industries. In 2024, global production reached an unprecedented approximately 132 million tonnes, which equates to about four tonnes of fibre being generated every second, significantly contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
The latest analysis indicates that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production of raw materials in these sectors have escalated by 20% in the last five years. However, there is encouraging news as an increasing number of companies report their sustainability efforts within Textile Exchange’s framework, signaling momentum toward shared accountability and fostering collaborative opportunities.
Among the 423 participating brands and retailers, a significant majority are actively transitioning away from conventional materials, opting for certified alternatives, steering clear of high-risk sourcing regions for natural fibres, and reducing their reliance on virgin fossil-based polyester.
Beth Jensen, Chief Impact Officer at Textile Exchange, noted, “We’re at a critical moment.” She pointed out, “It has been nearly a decade since the Paris Agreement, where nations committed to limiting global temperature increases to below 2°C, ideally pursuing a target of 1.5°C. Despite this commitment, data reveals that greenhouse gas emissions linked to raw material and fibre production within the apparel, home textiles, and footwear sectors have continued to rise significantly. With each passing year, global fibre production volumes hit new highs. While progress has been made, the window for transforming our systems is closing rapidly. Decisive action is essential.”
Claire Bergkamp, CEO of Textile Exchange, expressed optimism about the real advancements within the community. She stated, “It’s encouraging to see companies increasing their use of certified raw materials and lessening their dependence on virgin fossil-based polyester. The challenge remaining is to scale this progress effectively.”
The report emphasizes the pivotal role that companies play in documenting their advancements and investing in sourcing fibres according to recognized standards and certification programs. These practices are essential for the industry to monitor progress and provide reliable verification mechanisms.
According to the Textile Exchange annual report Materials Market Report, around 34% of global cotton production now derives from certified sources. Additionally, two-thirds of manmade cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) are produced using certified or controlled feedstock, and half of all mohair produced is certified under Textile Exchange’s Responsible Mohair Standard.
This year, Textile Exchange has introduced its first Fiber and Materials Matrix, a self-assessment tool that enables standards and other Tier 4 initiatives to report on their activities, facilitating a deeper industry understanding of various Tier 4 programs’ scope and impact.
Key Findings from the Textile Exchange Annual Report:
- In 2024, global fibre production reached a record high of around 132 million tonnes, up from approximately 125 million tonnes in 2023. This marks an increase of about 34 million tonnes since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015, translating to roughly four tonnes of fibre produced every second.
- The largest growth in global fibre production was seen in fossil fuel-based synthetics, with polyester being the most commonly produced fibre, comprising 59% of total output, of which 88% is fossil-based.
- The production of recycled polyester saw a slight increase from about 8.9 million tonnes in 2023 to approximately 9.3 million tonnes in 2024. However, because of a more significant rise in virgin polyester production, its market share dipped from 12.5% in 2023 to 12% in 2024. Notably, 98% of recycled polyester originates from plastic bottles.
- Cotton’s share of the overall fibre market decreased by 1% to 19% for 2023/24, yet it remains the second most produced fibre globally.
- Textile-to-textile recycling remains minimal, at less than 1%.
Insights from the Climate+ Dashboard:
The dashboard assists the industry in tracking progress toward Textile Exchange’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with material production by 45% by 2030, based on a 2019 benchmark. The latest findings illustrate:
- The overall greenhouse gas impact of material production in the fashion, home textiles, and footwear sectors rose by approximately 6% from 2023 to 2024 and has increased by 20% since the 2019 baseline.
- Polyester continues to be the leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, making up roughly 43% of the total impact due to high production volumes.
Key Findings from the Materials Benchmark:
The Materials Benchmark monitors the fibres and raw materials utilized by reporting companies, as well as their strategies to address circularity, biodiversity, land use, freshwater, and forest conservation. Key insights from 2024 include:
- A record number of brands and retailers are reporting to Textile Exchange, rising from 57 in its inaugural year in 2015 to 423 in 2025.
- Among the brands that submitted reports on specific fibres and materials for both 2023 and 2024:
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The proportion of raw materials certified under sustainability programs grew from 58% in 2023 to 67% in 2024.
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The use of virgin fossil-based polyester decreased from 637,388 tonnes in 2023 to 560,029 tonnes in 2024.
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The percentage of brands implementing measures to mitigate climate and environmental impacts during raw material production increased from 77% in 2023 to 81% in 2024.
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The number of brands with formal climate targets rose from 85% in 2023 to 88% in 2024.
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In July, Textile Exchange revised its Reclaimed Materials Declaration Form (RMDF) to enhance the tracing of textile waste within the supply chain by collecting data on the sources of recycled materials.
